10 Ferries in Hampshire That You Shouldn't Miss

Located within the New Forest National Park, Hurst Castle is situated on the seaward end of the shingle spit that extends 1.5 miles from Milford-on-Sea, Hampshire. Built by Henry VIII as a chain of fortresses to protect the Solent in 1544, this is the site where Charles I was imprisoned in 1648 before being taken to his trial and execution in London. The castle was modernised during the Napoleonic wars and again in the 1870s when the enormous armoured wings were added, making it the largest coastal fort in the world. Two of the huge 38-ton guns installed in the 1870s can be viewed in their casemates together with other weapons developed through 412 years of military use. During World War II, Hurst was manned with coastal gun batteries and searchlights. You can get to Hurst Castle by ferry from Keyhaven Quay (sat nav postcode: SO41 0TP) or you can walk along the shingle Hurst Spit. The castle is currently closed, however refreshments are available from outside the castle.

Passenger ferry service between Hamble le Rice and Warsash. We are also the main Mooring Contractor for the river and Crown Estate looking after all public sites, Boat yard and lift out services available , Diving services also available.

Red Funnel has a proud history of serving the Isle of Wight since 1820, carrying 3.4 million passengers to the Island each year. We have won awards for safety, innovation & service including Certificates of Excellence from Trip Advisor every year since 2013. Choose between two stunning routes: our Southampton-East Cowes (former home of Queen Victoria) service takes 1 hour, operates 365 days/year and carries vehicles & passengers. On board, enjoy free Wi-Fi, hot & cold food, a bar & coffee shops, or upgrade to the Signature Lounge, for a quieter club class experience. Our 2nd route connects Southampton to the world-famous yacht racing town of West Cowes. Our modern ‘Red Jet’ Hi-Speed catamarans take just 23 min to cross the Solent. Our entire fleet is dog friendly. Look to us for expert travel advice, accommodation bookings, attraction & event tickets. The opening times displayed are our Contact Centre hours.

Wightlink is the leading cross-Solent ferry operator carrying almost five million holidaymakers and Islanders to the Isle of Wight every year. We provide a vehicle and foot passenger ferry service from Lymington, a charming market town in the New Forest, to Yarmouth, a gorgeous historic town in the west of the Isle of Wight. Lymington to Yarmouth is our quickest and most scenic route for car passengers, with a crossing time of only 40 minutes. Facilities in both ports include a Costa Coffee serving drinks, rapid charging points (50kwh) for electric vehicles, ticket office, toilets and baby-changing facilities. Car parking and bicycle racks is also available. Three of our Wight Class ships serve this route. Whether travelling by foot or car, Wightlink’s modern, comfortable fleet provide spacious passenger lounges, sun decks to see the sights of the Solent, excellent food and drink options and easy to access facilities. Wightlink offers frequent sailings all year round.

Sail with Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth, Poole or Plymouth direct to France and Spain. Our routes take you closer to popular holiday destinations, saving miles of driving, fuel costs, tolls and overnight stops. Choose either superb comfort of a cruise ferry, no-frills economie service or speed across The Channel on our fast craft.

Wightlink is the leading cross-Solent ferry operator carrying almost five million holidaymakers and Islanders to the Isle of Wight every year. We provide a FastCat foot passenger ferry service from Portsmouth Harbour Railway Station, to Ryde Pier Head, a beautiful seaside town on the north-east coast of the Island, with Island Line trains running directly to and from the pier. Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head is our quickest route with a crossing time of 22 minutes, thanks to our high-speed catamarans, Wight Ryder I & II. Facilities in both ports include a Costa Coffee serving hot and cold food and drinks, ticket office, toilets and baby-changing facilities. Car parking on Ryde Pier Head is available and bicycle racks are also available at both ports. Wightlink’s modern, comfortable catamarans provide spacious passenger lounges, sun decks to see the sights of the Solent and easy to access facilities. Wightlink offers frequent sailings all year round.

Wightlink is the leading cross-Solent ferry operator carrying almost five million holidaymakers and Islanders to the Isle of Wight every year. We provide a vehicle and foot passenger ferry service from Portsmouth, one of Britain’s most vibrant port cities with excellent travel connections, to Fishbourne, conveniently located for anyone visiting the Isle of Wight. Portsmouth to Fishbourne is our most popular route. Facilities in both ports include a customer building serving hot and cold food and drinks, rapid charging points (50kwh) for electric vehicles, two-tier boarding for efficient loading and unloading of vehicles, ticket office, toilets and baby-changing facilities. Car parking and bicycle racks are also available. The crossing takes 45 minutes, using several of our vessels to serve the route, including our new hybrid energy powered flagship, Victoria of Wight.